New Zealand’s successful bid to host
the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup will raise the profile of
the game locally and provide a valuable economic boost for
the game, Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson
says.

“Congratulations to NZ Rugby for their
successful bid, announced this morning. This shows the
strength of the case put forward for the Black Ferns to
defend the World Cup on home soil, in front of our
passionate home crowds,” Grant Robertson said.

“Hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup will provide a
valuable platform to showcase and grow opportunities for
women in sport at all levels, from participation to
leadership.

“One of the goals of our recently
launched strategy for Women and Girls in Sport and Active
Recreation is to raise the value and visibility of women’s
sport. Hosting this tournament gives young New Zealanders an
opportunity to watch the world’s best women’s players in
action will hopefully inspire many more to give rugby a
go.

“The Government is supporting NZ Rugby’s
hosting of the tournament with a financial contribution
through the Major Events Development Fund.

“The
tournament provides another opportunity to reaffirm our
capability and experience in delivering major sporting
events. The Government is proud to support NZ Rugby to
deliver an amazing tournament,” Grant Robertson said.

Notes to editors:

· The Women’s Rugby
World Cup (WRWC) is the premier international rugby
competition for women. The tournament is organised by World
Rugby and is held every four years to avoid conflict with
the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup Sevens.

·
The first WRWC was held in 1991 and won by the USA. The 1991
and 1994 competitions where not officially sanctioned by
World Rugby, and later received retrospective endorsement in
2009, with the 1998 tournament in the Netherlands receiving
official World Rugby backing.

· This is the
first time the tournament will be hosted in the southern
hemisphere. Countries which have hosted the WRWC to date are
Wales (1991), Scotland (1994), Netherlands (1998), Spain
(2002), Canada (2006), England (2010), France (2014),
Ireland (2017).

· New Zealand have won the
tournament five times: 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and
2017.

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